A brave cancer survivor who’s planning a series of death defying fundraising stunts has been given the “Royle seal of approval”.
Top comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson has recorded a video urging people to support Ali Alcock as she takes on a magnificent seven challenges in aid of the Macmillan cancer charity.
Among them will be a skydive and looping the loop while wing walking – even though she is terrified of heights.
The week of fundraising is being sponsored by long-term supporters Ifor Williams Trailers with a generous donation of £2,200 from company director Carole Williams.
Ali has dedicated the challenges to her beloved cousin, Mark ‘Weeksy’ Weeks, of Johnstown, near Wrexham, who lost his courageous battle with a terminal brain tumour last September.
Ricky, aka Jim Royle from the hit comedy series, The Royle Family, was so impressed with Ali’s plans for her “Week for Weeksy” that he has also chipped in with a personal donation.
In the video Ricky said: “I want you to join Ali at Dee Park football ground in Corwen on Sunday, the 26th of June, at about 1pm for a day of fun, fundraising and a charity football match, all to be raising money for Macmillan in memory of Ali’s cousin, Mark Weeks, who sadly lost his battle to cancer in September last year.
“Now listen. This is very, very important. We need all the money we can get. It’s so important that even me, tight old Jim, is going to make a little donation. If I can make a donation, you can make a donation.
“Don’t forget, Sunday, the 26th of June, at 1pm at Dee Park football ground. See ya there.”
Ali, from Corwen, is aiming to top the £20,000 she raised last year with a 10-minute wing-walk at altitudes of up to 10.000.
She will be returning to the same airfield in Gloucestershire but this time the plane will also be doing aerobatics, including a loop the loop, while she’s stood on the wing with just a leaning post for company.
Her daredevil diary also includes a date with a skydive from 15,000 ft above the Tilstock airfield in Shropshire.
The activities kick off on Monday, June 20, with a hike to the summit of Snowdon, accompanied by more than 40 supporters, with a much faster descent on the Velocity 2 Zipline the following day, soaring at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour over the Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda.
Ali, who works for Denbighshire County Council, is also working with local schools to make a video promoting Makaton, a language programme that uses signs together with speech and symbols.
There will be a charity race night at the Stanton House pub in Chirk where Ali is promising a “racy reveal”.
The week will conclude with the charity football event with games between teams from Corwen and Rhos, where “Weeksy” lived.
There will be two matches one between Corwen Veterans and their counterparts from Rhos, where “Weeksy” lived and Corwen current team versus Llangollen. They will be playing for the Mark Weeks Memorial Trophy.
Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support is deeply personal for Ali, a social worker with Denbighshire County Council.
According to Ali, a routine smear test saved her life because it led to being diagnosed with cervical cancer and having a hysterectomy.
Since then she has been given the all-clear and has embarked on a fundraising crusade in aid of Macmillan who supported her when she was going through the mill.
She has also seen other close family members receive a cancer diagnosis.
Her father, Barry Jones, has been given the all-clear after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
But the family has also had to contend with the devastating loss of Ali’s much-loved cousin, Mark ‘Weeksy’ Weeks, a charismatic and inspirational former paratrooper.
Ali said: “Mark was the bravest and strongest person that I’ve ever known.
“He went through so much and yet he had such a positive outlook.
“He was always so full of life, active and fit. He was the kind of guy who would come off a nightshift and would then go and walk up Snowdon while wearing his Welsh boxer shorts.
“As a tribute to him I will be wearing a pair of them during the challenges.
“I am incredibly grateful to Ifor Williams Trailers who have supported me throughout my fundraising activities and this latest most generous donation will fund the costs of taking on the seven challenges.
“Having Ricky Tomlinson record such a lovely, supportive video is the icing on the cake. I am absolutely thrilled that I have been given the Royle seal of approval.”
Carole Williams said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support Ali once again.
“She is a truly courageous and inspirational woman because she is confronting and defying her own fears to raise money for this worthwhile cause.
“We wish her all the very best and hope that people will be inspired to donate generously so she can raise even more money for Macmillan this year.”
Ali has set up a Just Giving account for people who would like to make a donation to Macmillan: https://bit.ly/3MJyv9J
